Quick Info
The Lost King is one of those historical dramas that flew under the radar but really deserved a bigger audience. It’s about Philippa Langley, an amateur historian who became obsessed with finding the long-lost remains of King Richard III. The film follows her eccentric quest and the institutional skepticism she faces—as well as her determination, which is honestly infectious. It’s equal parts mystery, underdog story, and British quirkiness.
What stood out to me most is how Sally Hawkins carries the entire film. Her portrayal of Philippa is both quietly resolute and extremely relatable; she’s awkward, persistent, and believable. Steve Coogan (who also co-wrote the screenplay) brings humor and warmth as her supportive but bemused ex-husband. The supporting cast is solid, but it’s Hawkins who keeps you invested in a journey that might otherwise have seemed mundane.
The storyline avoids the big battle re-enactments you might expect from a movie about royalty—instead, it’s an intimate, sometimes oddball crusade against academic gatekeeping and chauvinism. There’s a light, almost whimsical touch in how the film blends Philippa’s imagination (Richard III sometimes appears to her) with the nuts and bolts of her investigation. Some may find these magical-realist moments a distraction, but I thought they brought Philippa’s internal world to life.
Cinematography-wise, The Lost King is more functional than flashy, but it does a nice job of capturing the damp, modern landscapes of Leicester and the peculiar mix of excitement and tedium inherent in historical research. Visually, it's a little muted, which fits both the British tone and the unsensational (but obsessive) nature of the true story.
You’ll really enjoy this film if you like offbeat underdog stories, British humor, or the idea that regular people can rewrite history. It’s not the most dramatic or action-packed telling of real events, but its heart and peculiarity make it memorable in its own right.
